Sliding door support



Aug. 31, 1965 'r. OHMAN SLIDING DOOR SUPPORT Filed July 2, 1962 M ZWUnited States Patent 3,203,027 SLIDING DOOR SUPPORT v Thor Ohman, 1633Farwell Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,870

4 Claims. (CI. 16-105) This invention relates to a sliding door supportand more particularly to an improved combination of a track for holdingup a door and a hanger for attaching a door panel to a track as well asimproved construction for a track and the door hanger.

The use of rollably supported doors or sliding doors as they arepopularly called has become increasingly popular inasmuch as these doorsprovide an eflicient use of space. Although the hardware for these doorshas been steadily improved, several problems still persist. One of theseproblems is that a door panel tends to sway as it is moved from oneposition to another. Another problem is that, when the door panels arehung, each door panel must have its plumb adjusted. Many and varieddevices are provided to prevent sway of a door panel and to adjust theplumb. The principal objection to all of these devices is that they areeither expensive to manufacture or expensive to install, in that theyrequire a substantial amount of labor, or both. It is, therefore, theprincipal object of this invention to provide an improved sliding doorsupport which is economical to manufacture and simple to install.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide an improvedtrack and hanger construction which provides a fixed path for movementof the door panel along a track to eliminate swaying of the door panel.

It is a further object of the herein disclosed invention to provide animproved door hanger which may be simply installed and the plumb of asliding door panel may be simply adjusted.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide animproved and simplified construction of a door hanger in which a singlefastener accomplishes the dual function of supporting the door andproviding means to adjust the plumb of the door.

Other objects and uses of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the followingspecification in light of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sliding door hung on a door supportembodying the hereindisclosed invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the door shown in FIG- URE 1 but shownconnected to a conventional door header;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the door hangers ofFIGURE 1 showing the details of construction thereof and a secondposition of the hanger shown in dotted form;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the door hanger shown in FIGURES 3 and4; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a trackshown in FIGURE 1 showing the engagement of a wheel of a hanger.

Referring now to the drawing and especially to FIG- URE 1, it may beseen that a pair of door panels 10 and 12 .are rollably supported on atrack 14 by a plurality of identical door hangers 16. The track 14 issecured to a conventional door header 18 by a plurality of screws 20 asmay be seen in FIGURE 2.

Considering now the specific construction of the track 14, in thisinstance, the track is an integral piece of extruded aluminum. The trackincludes a support plate 22 which receives the above-mentioned screws 20to secure the track to the header 18. Formed integral with the sup- 5'ice port plate is a front offset 24 and a rear offset 26. The rearoifset has a rear head stop 28 fomed integral therewith while the frontoffset has a front head stop 30 formed integral with it. The front headstop 30 has a trim strip 32 for-med integral therewith which trim stripalso acts as a spacer for a runner 34. The rear offset 26 has a spacer36 formed integral therewith and the space has a runner 38 formedintegral therewith. The construction of runner 38 is identical with theconstruction of runner 34.

Looking now to FIGURE 6 which shows an enlarged view of the runnerconstruction, it may be seen that the runner 38 includes an elongatedrunner offset 40 which extends downward and .away from the trim strip32. Formed integral with the runner offset is an elongated front convexsection 42 which has a rear elongated convex section 44 formed integraltherewith to provide a groove 46 between the two sections. A stop rail48 is formed integral with the rear convex section 44.

The construction of the runner 34 is identical to the runner 38.However, the runner offset of runner 34 is secured to the trim 32 by atrim spacer 50. It is readily apparent that, inasmuch as the track 14 ismade of an extruded piece of aluminum, all of the parts are elongatedand are formed integral with each other and extend over the entirelength of the track.

As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the hangers 16 are roll-ably mounted in therunners to rollably support the doors. Since the construction of thehangers 16 is identical to each other only one of the hangers will bedescribed in detail. The hanger 16 includes a wheel or roller 52 whichrolls in its respective runner, a plate 53 rotatably supporting thewheel, a disc 54 which engages the plate, and a screw fastener 55 whichsecures the other parts to a door panel. Looking to FIGURE 6 it may beseen that the roller has a convex outer periphery or crown surface 56which engages the convex sections 42 and 44 at substantially a pointcontact. The roller 52 has a shank 57 which provides a spacer for thewheel. The wheel is pivotedly mounted on a shaft 58 which in thisinstance is a rivet having a head 60 and a fiaired end 62. The rivet isfixed to the plate 53.

The plate 53 includes a wheel support 70 which receives the rivet 58 andis engaged by the fiaired head 62. A plate offset 72 is formed integralwith the wheel support in order to position the center of the crown ofthe wheel above the center of the door. The plate offset has a mountingplate 74 formed integral therewith and the mounting plate contains acircular aperture 76 which receives the disc 54. Looking to FIGURE 5, itmay be seen that the plate 53 has a pair of elongated bosses 77 formedin it to increase the strength of the plate.

As may he clearly seen in FIGURE 4, the disc 54 contains a circularrecess plate 78 having a screw aperture 80 extending therethrough, whichaperture is positioned closer to the outer periphery of the recess platethan to the center thereof. Formed integral with the outer periphery ofthe recess plate is a flange '82 which engages the mounting plate 64. Itshould be noted that the distance between a plane determined by theoutermost portion of the recess plate 78 and the innermost portion offlange 82 is less than the thickness of the mounting plate 74 forreasons which will become apparent hereinafter. The flange 82 contains aslot 84 to provide a convenient means for engaging the flange to rotatethe disc.

The disc, as was mentioned above, is fixed to the door by fastener 55.The fastener 55 is substantially conventional in construction in that itincludes a threaded portion 86 and a slot-ted head 88. Between thethreaded portion 86 and the slotted head 88 is a shank 90 which fitsinto the screw aperture 80 so that the shank 90 acts as a bearing forthe disc as will be described hereinafter.

The hanger 16 is applied to a door by positioning the hanger adjacent toone upper corner of the door with the door in its approximate plumb andpreferably slightly below the anticipated level of the door. The screw55 is fixed to the door with the plate 53 and disc 54 in position and,of course, wheel 52 is rotatably mounted on the plate. The door is hungby placing the door at a slight angle and positioning the lowermostportion of the wheel over the stop rail and then tilting the wheel intoposition to pass under the head stop.

After the door is hung onto the runner, adjustment of the plumb is thenconsidered. If it is desired to lower slightly one corner of the door,it is necessary only to loosen the fastener 55 slightly, insert a screwdriver or other similar device in the slot 84 to rotate the disc aboutthe screw and within the aperture 76. It may be noted that the screwaperture 80 is closer to the flange 82 than it is to the center of thecircular plate 78. Thus, the screw aperture is oifset and, as the discis rotated, the plate 53 is moved upward relative to the door,therefore, lowering the door relative to the runner. With the door atits proper level, the screw 55 is tightened so that the flange 82frictionally engages the mounting plate 74 and holds the mounting platetightly between the door and the flange. The friction between the flangeand the mounting plate prevents rotation of the disc so that the door isheld securely in position.

It should be noted that there is no need for high polishing of the discand mounting plate so that the mounting 7 plate and disc may be simplestampings. It should further be noted that the rougher the surfaces ofthe disc and the mounting plate the better the frictional contact andthus the better the holding powers of the hanger. It

is also apparent that this installation is simple, requiring only onefastener and one tightening to secure the hanger to the door and to makean adjustment.

In the operation of the door it is readily apparent how the track andhanger cooperate to move the door along a predetermined path. As wasmentioned above, the runner has two convex surfaces having a groovetherebetween. The outer periphery of the roller is also convex toprovide a substantially point contact between the wheel and the twoconvex surfaces. Thus, it is readily apparent as the wheel rolls on thetwo convex surfaces, the wheel tends to straddle the groove between theconvex surfaces to keep the wheel in a path determined by the two convexsurfaces. There is no tendency for the door to wobble in a path. Eventhough there should be wear on the Wheel or on the runner, theconstruction of the convex surfaces adapts for wear so that the twosurfaces are always effective. Furthermore, the amount of wear isreduced, inasmuch as the only wear is always a result of rolling ratherthan sliding and there is no opportunity for sliding or rubbing ofsurfaces in the instant construction.

It is also readily apparent that in the event that there should be asevere jolt to the door, the stop rail would hold the Wheel in position.Should the jolt tend to hit the door upward the head stop would preventthe wheel from leaving the runner.

Although the instant device has been shown with a single wheel on ahanger, it is readily apparent that a construction using a twin wheel ona hanger may be used. A twin wheel hanger would operate in substantiallythe same manner as the single wheel hanger. It is also apparent thatthough the track has been shown and described with a trim strip as beingan integral part of the track, it is apparent that a trim strip need notbe used in certain instances and is therefore not essential to thepresent invention.

Although a specific embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention has beenshown and described in detail, it is readily apparent that those skilledin the art may make various and sundry modifications and changes withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. It is tobe expressly understood that the present invention is limited only bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sliding door support comprising, in combination, a support platefor attachment to a door header, a substantially vertical spacer fixedto said support plate, a runner offset fixed to said vertical spacer, afirst elongated convex section fixed to said runner oifset, a secondelongated convex section fixexi to the first convex section to providean elongated groove between said sections, an

elongated rail fixed to the second convex section, a roller having aconvex outer periphery rollably engaging the first and second convexsections to roll in a predetermined path above the groove, a shaftrotatably supporting the wheel, a plate fixed to said shaft, said platehaving an aperture contained therein, a disc positioned adjacent to saidaperture, said disc having a fastener aperture contained therein, afastener positioned in said fastener aperture, and a door fixed to saidfastener and said fastener holding the disc in frictional engagementwith the plate to secure the plate to the door.

2. A sliding door support comprising, in combination, a support platefor attachment to a door header, a substantially vertical spacer formedintegral with the support plate, a runner offset formed integral withthe vertical spacer, an elongated first convex section formed integralwith the runner offset, a second elongated convex section integral withthe first convex section forming a groove between the two sections, arail formed integral with the second convex section, a roller having acrowned outer periphery rollably engaging the first and second convexsections to roll in a predetermined path above the groove, a wheelsupport rot-atably connected to the roller, a plate offset formedintegral with the wheel support, a mounting plate formed integral withthe plate offset, said mounting plate having a circular aperturecontained therein, a circular recessed plate rotatably positioned in thecircular aperture, "a flange formed integral with the recessed plate,said recessed plate having an aperture contained therein positionedcloser to the flange than to the center of the plate, a fastenerpositioned in the aperture of said plate for holding the plate adjacentto a door and securing the mounting plate between the door and theflange, whereby the door may be positioned vertically relative to thesupport plate by rotating the recessed plate in the mounting plateaperture.

3. A door hanger for a sliding door comprising; roller means forengaging a track for supoprting a door; a plate connected to said rollermeans; said plate including a roller support connected to said rollermeans, a plate offset formed integral with the roller support, and amounting plate having a circular aperture contained therein formedintegral with the plate offset; a disc engageable with said plate; saiddisc having a circular boss mateably positioned in the circular apertureand a flange being formed integral with the outer periphery of the bossand the distance from the plane of the outermost portion of the boss tothe plane of the flange being less than the thickness of the mountingplate; said flange having a slot contained in its outer periphery; saidboss having an aperture contained therein and said aperture being closerto the flange than to the center of the boss; and a screw fastenerhaving a head and a threaded portion positioned inthe aperture in saidboss and being securable to the door; said screw fastener having a shankportion adjacent to the head engageable with the disc; whereby said doorhanger is secured to a door by securing the screw fastener to the doorand the roller means may be adjusted vertically relative to the door byrotating the disc in the circular aperture in the mounting plate.

4. A door support comprising, in combination, a support plate forattachment to a door header, a substantially vertical spacer fixed tothe support plate, a runner offset fixed to the vertical spacer, anelongated first convex section fixed to the runner offset, a secondelongated convex section formed integral with the first elongated convexsection forming a groove between the two convex sections, a rail formedintegral with the second convex section, roller means having a convexouter periphery rollably engaging the first and second convex sectionsto roll in a predetermined path above the groove between the first andsecond convex sections, a roller support rotatably connected to saidroller means, a plate offset formed integral with the roller support, amounting plate having a circular aperture contained therein formedintegral with the plate oifset, a disc engageable with said plate, saiddisc having a circular plate mateably positioned in the circularaperture, a flange being formed integral with the outer periphery of thecircular plate and the distance from the plane of the outermost portionof the circular plate to the plane of the flange being less than thethickness of the mounting plate, said circular plate having an aperturecontained therein and said aperture being closer to the flange than tothe center of the plate, and a screw fastener having a head and athreaded portion positioned in the aperture in said boss and beingsecurable to a door, said screw fastener having a shank portion adjacentto its head engageable with the disc, whereby a door secured to saidscrew fastener is vertically adjustable relative to the support plate byrotating the disc relative to the plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,246 9/62Majeske 16-105 899,051 9/08 Hunt 16105 963,261 7/10 Topping 16--961,198,252 9/16 Marx 16--98 2,296,323 9/42 Allen 248265 2,627,633 2/53Shectman 16-105 2,904,848 9/59 Liherenz. 2,982,988 5/61 Blackmer 16872,999,267 9/ 61 Sterling et a1. 16105 3,041,657 7/62 McNinch 161053,105,272 10/63 Tucker 2019 3,141,189 7/64 Fergison 16-105 FOREIGNPATENTS 56,384 3/ 36 Norway. 239,180 12/45 Switzerland.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

1. A SLIDING DOOR SUPPORT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT PLATEFOR ATTACHMENT TO A DOOR HEADER, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SPACER FIXEDTO SAID SUPPORT PLATE, A RUNNER OFFSET FIXED TO SAID VERTICAL SPACER, AFIRST ELONGATED CONVEX SECTION FIXED TO SAID RUNNER OFFSET, A SECONDELONGATED CONVEX SECTION FIXED TO THE FIRST CONVEX SECTION TO PROVIDE ANELONGATED GROOVE BETWEEN SAID SECTION, A ROLLER ELONGATED RAIL FIXED TOTHE SECOND CONVEX SECTION, A ROLLER HAVING A CONVEX OUTER PERIPHERYROLLABLY ENGAGING THE FIRST AND SECOND CONVEX SECTIONS TO ROLL IN APREDETERMINED PATH ABOVE THE GROOVE, A SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THEWHEEL, A PLATE FIXED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID PLATE HAVING AN APERTURECONTAINED THEREIN, A DISC POSITIONED ADJACENT TO SAID APERTURE, SAIDDISC HAVING A FASTENER APERTURE CONTAINED THEREIN, A FASTENER POSITIONEDIN SAID FASTENER APERTURE, AND A DOOR FIXED TO SAID FASTENER AND SAIDFASTENER HOLDING THE DISC IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PLATE TOSECURE THE PLATE TO THE DOOR.